William d



(No Model.)

W. D. WIDDERS.

RUNNING GEAR.

Patented Dec. 7,1897.

nrrn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILIJIAINI D. \VIDDERS, OF FAIRLAND, INDIAN TERRITORY.

RUNNING-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,087, dated December '7, 1897.

Application filed April '7, 189 '7. Serial No. 631,111. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concerw Be it known that 1, WILLIAM D. WIDDEns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairland, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory,

have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Running-Gears; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the running-gear for railroad-cars, and particularly to the wheels thereof; and the object of my invention is to provide a running-gear which will offer less resistance in its travel over the rails and which will permit of an increased rate of speed being given to the cars and also provide means to engage the edges of the rail, and thus prevent any possibility of derailment.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the arrangement of parts whereby the above results are accomplished and other advantages gained, as will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents the forward end of a car having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the wheel. Fig. 3 is a section taken through the axle looking toward the inner face of one of the wheels. Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken through the wheel on the line a 4: of Fig. 3.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the body portion of a car, and 2 the truck, both of which may be of the usual construction.

3 represents the axle, provided near each end with my improved wheel i, and this axle may be supported by the truck in the usual manner.

The wheels & are circular in form except at their lower portions, where they are flattened, and an annular groove is provided upon their peripheries, in which a series of antifrictionballs are arranged to move, and the side walls of these annular grooves at their outer edges are turned slightly upon the balls, so as to prevent their removal therefrom.

Upon the inner faces of the wheels 4 bearings 5 are formed, in which cone-rollers 6 are journaled, and these rollers are arranged to project below the top level of the rail and serve the purposes of the flanges of the ordinary wheels, as well as to lessen the wear upon the inner edges of the rails, as will be apparent. The wheels are also provided upon their inner and outer faces with guideways '7, in which blocks 8 slide and provided with vertical slots in their inner or rear faces, the said blocks being provided at their lower extremities with hoods E), which normally rest below the level of the rail, and these guideblocks 8 are shown as slotted to receive fingers 10, which are pivotally mounted therein, the said fingers at their upper ends being provided with projections 10, and the lower ends of the fingers have attached to them the blocks 11, which are recessed at their lower ends to receive grooved rollers 12, which are arranged within the hoods 9, above referred to. Springs 13 are mounted within the slots, and their free ends engage behind the fingers 10 and serve to keep the projections 10 pressed against the inner face of the sliding blocks 8 andtheir lower ends, which carry the grooved rollers 12, toward and into engagement with the side edges of the rails, in which position the hoods will be in their normal or lowered position; but when any obstruction is encounteredsuch as a switchfrog, railway-crossing, or other obstacle-the hoods will be forced upward in their guideways, and the projections 1O" of the fingers 10 will instantly fall into the slots in the rear faces of the guideways 7, the action of the springs then serving to force the grooved rollers 12 away from the edge of the rail, and thus permit of the upward movement of the sliding blocks 8. After the obstruction has been passed the sliding blocks 8 by reason of their own weight will fall again to their normal level, the grooved rollers at the same time engaging with the edges of the rail, as before mentioned. It will thus be seen that when the hoods are in their normal or lowered position the grooved rollers 12 will be brought close up to the edge of the rails, which will effectually prevent any possibility of the cars becoming derailed.

An opening somewhat larger than the diameter of the balls is provided at the upper surface of the wheels, through which the balls may be passed into the annular grooves in which they work, a suitable plate being provided to cover these openings when the balls have been inserted. This also provides for the ready removal of any of the balls that may become worn or broken and the substitution of others therefor.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides a running-gear which reduces the friction and permits of the trains moving at a more rapid rate of speed and which also pro vides means whereby the chances of derailment are greatly lessened. I

The brakes may be applied in the usual manner; but it will of course be understood that instead of engaging with the tread of the wheels as at present they will be brought to bear directly upon the balls, which will prevent their travel in the annular grooves, thus forming a solid surface the entire length of the flattened portion of the wheels, which surface it will be observed is much greater than that of the tread of the ordinary wheels, thus serving to give greater resistance to the forward movement of the cars and to bring the trains to a quicker stop.

The flattened portions of the wheels prevent a greater surface to the tread of the rails than the ordinary wheels, and this serves to prevent any rattling or jarring noise as they pass over low or open rail-joints, it being obvious that they will embrace both ends of the adjacent rails and pass thereover without any jolt being given to the cars.

It is obvious that my invention is susceptible of many modifications, and I reserve the right to change or alter the parts in a manner that may fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A running-gear for railroad-cars, comprising axles, and wheels carried by said axles, the said wheels being flattened for a portion of their circumference and provided with annular grooves to receive a series of antifriction-balls, rollers carried by the said wheels to prevent lateral movement thereof, and means arranged upon said wheels to prevent an upward movement of the axles, snbstantially as described.

2. A running-gear for railroad-cars, comprising axles and wheels, the said wheels being flattened for a portion of their circumference and provided with annular grooves to receive a series of antifriction balls, and guideways mounted upon each side of the wheels in which guide-blocks are arranged, the said guide-blocks being provided with grooved rollers adapted to normally engage the side edges of the rail, substantially as described.

3. A running-gear for railroad-cars, comprising axles and wheels, the said wheels being flattened and provided with annular grooves to receive a series of antifriction-balls, guideways mounted upon each side of said wheels, slotted guide-blocks adapted to work in said guideways, and arms provided at their upper ends with a lip or projection, and at their lower ends with a grooved roller, the said arms being pivotally connected to said guideblocks, substantially as described.

4. A running-gear for railroad-cars, comprising axles and wheels, the said wheels being flattened for a portion of their circumference, and provided with annular grooves to receive a series of antifriction-balls, the said grooves having an enlargement to admit the balls into the grooves, and a cover to close said enlargement, guideways mounted on each side of said wheels and provided with slots, guide-blocks adapted to work in said guideways, the lower ends of which are provided with hoods, arms pivotally mounted in said guide-blocks, the lower ends of the said arms carrying a grooved roller and the other ends being provided with a lip or projection, and a spring adapted to engage behind the said lips or projections, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVILLIAM D. VVIDDERS.

WVitnesses:

D. W. FREEMAN, CARROLL MOORE. 

